Julian Assange Calls Barack Obama a 'Traitor'

LONDON: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has called US president Barack Obama a "traitor" for going back on his promise to preside over "the most transparent administration in history".

Assange said Edward Snowden is the eighth leaker to be charged with espionage under "this president" (Obama). According to him, "it is getting to the point where the mark of international distinction and service to humanity is no longer the Nobel Peace Prize", but an espionage indictment from the US department of justice.

"The US government is spying on each and every one of us, but it is Edward Snowden who is charged with espionage for tipping us off," Assange said. He said that government secrecy has been expanding on a great scale as human privacy has been secretly eradicated.

Launching his most scathing attack till date on Obama, Assange said, "The word traitor has been thrown around a lot in recent days. But who is really the traitor here? Who was it who promised a generation hope and change, only to betray those promises with dismal misery and stagnation?

Who took an oath to defend the US constitution, only to feed the invisible beast of secret law devouring it alive from the inside out? Who combined in his executive the powers of judge, jury and executioner and claimed the jurisdiction of the entire earth on which to exercise those powers?

Who arrogates the power to spy on the entire earth - every single one of us - and when he is caught red handed, explains to us that 'we're going to have to make a choice'. Let's be very careful about who we call a traitor."

"This isn't how to fix things. The only way to fix things is this: change the policies, stop spying on the world, eradicate secret law, cease indefinite detention without trial, stop assassinating people, stop invading other countries and sending young Americans off to kill and be killed, stop the occupations and discontinue the secret wars," he added.

He urged countries around the world to stand up and offer Snowden asylum.

"The charging of Edward Snowden is intended to intimidate any country that might be considering standing up for his rights. That tactic must not be allowed to work.

The effort to find asylum for Edward Snowden must be intensified. What brave country will stand up for him, and recognize his service to humanity? Tell your governments to step forward. Step forward and stand with Snowden," Assange said.